Legendary England seamer James Anderson recently revealed his favourite cricketer from Team India, naming Virat Kohli. Asked to pick his preferred player from each major cricketing nation, the Lancashire great chose the all-format batting icon, citing their numerous on-field duels, particularly in Test cricket over the last decade.
Anderson famously troubled Kohli during India’s 2014 Test tour of England, which turned out to be a difficult phase for the right-hander. Kohli managed just 134 runs across 10 innings at a low average of 13.40, with Anderson dismissing him four times. The veteran pacer played a key role in England’s 3-1 series triumph, finishing as the leading wicket-taker with 25 scalps at an average of 20.60.
Overall, while Anderson has dismissed the Delhi-born batter seven times in Test cricket, Kohli still boasts an impressive average of 43.57 against the English legend. In a video shared by TNT Sports Cricket on X on Saturday, January 3, the 43-year-old was seen naming his favourite cricketer from each country.
Jimmy Anderson names his favourite player from each country 👀 pic.twitter.com/oeHEe2oBgK
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) January 3, 2026
Anderson bowed out as England’s most successful Test bowler, finishing with 704 wickets from 188 matches at an average of 26.45, highlighted by 32 five-wicket hauls. He also stands as the third-highest wicket-taker across all formats, claiming 991 scalps in 401 games. In addition, the veteran tops England’s ODI wicket-taking charts with 269 dismissals.
Virat Kohli Set To Feature In ODI Series Against New Zealand
After stepping away from T20Is in 2024 and Test cricket the following year, Virat Kohli is now active solely in the ODI format. The former India skipper has been relishing the 50-over game, ending 2025 with an outstanding 651 runs from 13 matches at an average of 65.10, including three centuries.
Currently ranked No. 2 in the ICC ODI batting rankings, Kohli was named Player of the Series in the recent three-match ODI series against South Africa, where he amassed 302 runs at a staggering average of 151. Kohli is set to return to competitive action when India face New Zealand in a three-ODI series starting January 11 in Vadodara.
The Delhi-born batter also turned out in two matches of the 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 131 against Andhra Pradesh and 77 versus Gujarat in December.
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